Sandbag

ABSTRACT

A sandbag is made of synthetic fibers, is an integral, woven, hollow and elongated element and has an upper cloth, a lower cloth, two lateral strengthened strips, a stuffing space and an inlet. The lower cloth is woven with the upper cloth. The lateral strengthened strips are respectively formed on two opposite sides of the sandbag and are integrally woven with where long sides of the upper cloth and the lower cloth are connected. The sandbag is produced as an integral element and has the lateral strengthened strips, so the structural strength of the sandbag is greatly enhanced and a lifespan of the sandbag is prolonged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sandbag, and more particularly to asandbag having lateral strengthened strips to enhance structuralstrength of the sandbag.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional sandbag has been widely applied to different fields, suchas breakwaters, seawalls, cofferdams, or water purification for heavyindustry, husbandry, mining industry or reservoir silts. Structures andan assembling method of the conventional sandbags may be furtherreferred to TW Patent No. 494928 and TW Patent No. 517129, etc.

A conventional sandbag has two rectangular clothes. Each cloth has foursides respectively stitched with those of the other cloth by threads.Accordingly, a stuffing space is formed between the clothes and sands orstones can be filled into the stuffing space by a hopper or a pump.

However, threads are easily tightened and broken because a pressure inthe stuffing space increases as the sands or stones are stuffed in thestuffing space.

Moreover, the sands or stones will escape from gaps formed between thethreads and the clothes due to the environmental changes or forcesapplied to the conventional sandbag.

Additionally, formulas or tensile strengths of filaments of the clothesmay differ from those of the threads and the sandbag is easily brokenwhen external forces are applied to the sandbag.

TW Patent No. 494928 has disclosed a conventional sandbag that is anintegral element woven by filaments made of PP (Polypropylene) or PE(Polyethylene). Accordingly, gaps between the threads and the clothes donot exist. Nevertheless, the sandbag in TW patent 494928 does not have alaterally strengthened structure. When the sandbag is filled with sandsor stones, the sandbag swells and has an elliptic cross section.Consequently, the sandbag is easily broken because forces concentrate onthe lateral and opposite sides of the sandbag. Furthermore, multiplepiled sandbags are easily deformed and moved because each sandbag lacksa connecting structure that can connect two adjacent sandbags.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide asandbag to mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a sandbag havinglateral strengthened strips to enhance structural strength of thesandbag.

The sandbag is made of synthetic fibers, is an integral, woven, hollowand elongated element and has an upper cloth, a lower cloth, two lateralstrengthened strips, a stuffing space and an inlet. The lower cloth iswoven with the upper cloth. The lateral strengthened strips arerespectively formed on two opposite sides of the sandbag and areintegrally woven with where long sides of the upper cloth and the lowercloth are connected. The sandbag is produced as an integral element andhas the lateral strengthened strips, so the structural strength of thesandbag is greatly enhanced and a lifespan of the sandbag is prolonged.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a sandbag inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the sandbag inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an operational side view of multiple assembled sandbags inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional perspective view of a firstembodiment of the assembled sandbags in accordance with the presentinvention combined by threads;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional perspective view of a secondembodiment of the assembled sandbags in accordance with the presentinvention combined by adhesives;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional perspective view of a thirdembodiment of the assembled sandbags in accordance with the presentinvention combined by zippers;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional perspective view of a fourthembodiment of the assembled sandbags in accordance with the presentinvention combined by ropes; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional perspective view of a fifthembodiment of the assembled sandbags in accordance with the presentinvention combined by connecting strips and ropes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, a sandbag 10 in accordance with thepresent invention is made of synthetic fibers, such as PE(Polyethylene),PP(Polypropylene), PA(Polyamide) or PET(Polyethylenephthalate), and isan integral, woven, hollow and elongated element. The sandbag 10 has anupper cloth 11, a lower cloth 12, two lateral strengthened strips 13,two distal strengthened strips 14, a stuffing space 15 and an inlet 16.

The upper cloth 11 is rectangular and has two opposite long sides andtwo opposite short sides. The lower cloth 12 is rectangular, is locatedbelow the upper cloth 11 and has two opposite long sides and twoopposite short sides. The long sides of the lower cloth 12 arerespectively and integrally woven with those of the upper cloth 11. Theshort sides of the lower cloth 12 are respectively and integrally wovenwith those of the upper cloth 11.

The lateral strengthened strips 13 are respectively formed on twoopposite sides of the sandbag 10, radially protrude from and areintegrally woven with where the long sides of the upper cloth 11 and thelower cloth 12 are connected. Each later strengthened strip 13 extendsalong a line parallel to an axis of the sandbag 10.

The distal strengthened strips 14 are respectively formed on twoopposite sides of the sandbag 10, axially protrude from and areintegrally woven with where the short sides of the upper cloth 11 andthe lower cloth 12 are connected. Each distal strengthened strip 14extends along a line perpendicular to the axis of the sandbag 10.

Widths of the lateral strengthened strips 13 and the distal strengthenedstrips 14 can be widened or shortened based on different requiredstructural strengths of the sandbag 10.

The stuffing space 15 is formed between the upper cloth 11 and the lowercloth 12 to receive sands or stones.

The inlet 16 is tubular, is connected with the upper cloth 11 andcommunicates with the stuffing space 15. Preferably, the inlet 16 isconnected with the upper cloth 11 by stitches. A diameter, a length anda position of the inlet 16 can be adjusted dependent on a length of thesandbag 10 and construction requirement.

With reference to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the sandbag 10A issubstantially the same as the first embodiment.

During manufacture, two openings are respectively formed at the oppositetwo sides of the sandbag 10A where the short sides of the upper cloth11A and the lower cloth 12A are located.

After that, the sandbag 10A is cut to a required length. The openings ofthe sandbag 10A are then sealed by stitches 17A, adhesives or heatfusion. Consequently, the length of the sandbag 10A can be adjustedduring manufacture.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, multiple sandbags 10 in accordance withthe present invention are piled to form an assembled construction thatcan be applied to a breakwater, a seawall, a submerged breakwater or acofferdam for reclamation lands.

Because each sandbag 10,10A has two lateral strengthened strips 13,13A,two adjacent lateral strengthened strips 13,13A can be connected witheach other by various combining members 20 and a structural strength ofthe assembled construction is greatly enhanced.

With reference to FIG. 4, a first embodiment of the assembledconstruction comprises multiple sandbags 10B assembled by multiplecombining members, preferably threads 20B. Each thread 20B is stitchedwith two adjacent lateral strengthened strips 13B to secure two adjacentsandbags 10B. Moreover, the sandbags 10B can be assembled at factoriesin advance and then are conveyed to a construction site.

With reference to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of the assembledconstruction comprises multiple sandbags 10C assembled by multiplecombining members, preferably adhesives 20C.

With reference to FIG. 6, a third embodiment of the assembledconstruction comprises multiple sandbags 10D assembled by multiplecombining members, preferably zippers 20D. With the zippers 20D, theassembling of the strengthened strips 13D is very easy in theconstruction site.

With reference to FIG. 7, a fourth embodiment of the assembledconstruction comprises multiple sandbags 10E assembled by multiplecombining members, preferably ropes 20E. Each lateral strengthened strip13E has multiple through holes 132E formed through the lateralstrengthened strip 13E and each rope 20E is mounted through the throughholes 132E of two adjacent sandbags 10E.

With reference to FIG. 8, a fifth embodiment of the assembledconstruction comprises multiple sandbags 10F assembled by multiplecombining members, preferably ropes 20F. Each sandbag 10F has twoconnecting strips 18F respectively stitched with the lateralstrengthened strips 13F. Each connecting strip 18F has multiple throughholes 181F formed through the connecting strip 18F and each rope 20F ismounted through the through holes 181F of two connecting strips 18F.

From the above description, it is noted that the present invention hasthe following advantages:

1. Enhanced Structural Strength:

The sandbag 10,10A,10B,10C,10D,10E,10F is produced as an integralelement and has the lateral strengthened strips 13,13A,13B,13D,13E,13F,so the structural strength of the sandbag 10,10A,10B,10C,10D,10E,10F isgreatly enhanced and a lifespan of the sandbag10,10A,10B,10C,10D,10E,10F is prolonged.

2. Excellent Stability of the Assembled Construction:

Because each sandbag 10,10A,10B,10C,10D,10E,10F has two lateralstrengthened strips 13,13A,13B,13D,13E,13F, two adjacent lateralstrengthened strips 13,13A,13B,13D,13E,13F can be connected with eachother by various combining members 20, such as the threads 20B, theadhesives 20C, the zippers 20D, the ropes 20E,20F and by heat fusion.Consequently, a structural strength of the assembled construction isgreatly increased.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and function of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sandbag made of synthetic fibers, being anintegral, woven, hollow and elongated element and comprising: an uppercloth having two opposite long sides and two opposite short sides; alower cloth located below the upper cloth and having two opposite longsides respectively and integrally woven with those of the upper cloth;and two opposite short sides respectively connected with those of theupper cloth; two lateral strengthened strips respectively formed on twoopposite sides of the sandbag, radially protruding from and integrallywoven with where the long sides of the upper cloth and the lower clothare connected; a stuffing space formed between the upper cloth and thelower cloth; and an inlet connected with the upper cloth andcommunicating with the stuffing space.
 2. The sandbag as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the opposite short sides of the lower cloth arerespectively and integrally woven with those of the upper cloth; and thesandbag further has two distal strengthened strips respectively formedon two opposite sides of the sandbag, axially protruding from andintegrally woven with where the short sides of the upper cloth and thelower cloth are connected.
 3. The sandbag as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe inlet is connected with the upper cloth by stitches.
 4. The sandbagas claimed in claim 1, wherein the short sides of the upper cloth andthe lower cloth are connected by stitches.
 5. The sandbag as claimed inclaim 4, wherein the inlet is connected with the upper cloth bystitches.
 6. The sandbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein two zippers arerespectively connected with the lateral strengthened strips.
 7. Thesandbag as claimed in claim 2, wherein two zippers are respectivelyconnected with the lateral strengthened strips.
 8. The sandbag asclaimed in claim 3, wherein two zippers are respectively connected withthe lateral strengthened strips.
 9. The sandbag as claimed in claim 4,wherein two zippers are respectively connected with the lateralstrengthened strips.
 10. The sandbag as claimed in claim 5, wherein twozippers are respectively connected with the lateral strengthened strips.11. The sandbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lateral strengthenedstrip has multiple through holes formed through the lateral strengthenedstrip.
 12. The sandbag as claimed in claim 2, wherein each lateralstrengthened strip has multiple through holes formed through the lateralstrengthened strip.
 13. The sandbag as claimed in claim 3, wherein eachlateral strengthened strip has multiple through holes formed through thelateral strengthened strip.
 14. The sandbag as claimed in claim 4,wherein each lateral strengthened strip has multiple through holesformed through the lateral strengthened strip.
 15. The sandbag asclaimed in claim 5, wherein each lateral strengthened strip has multiplethrough holes formed through the lateral strengthened strip.
 16. Thesandbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein two connecting strips arerespectively stitched with the lateral strengthened strips by stitchesand each connecting strip has multiple through holes formed through theconnecting strip.
 17. The sandbag as claimed in claim 2, wherein twoconnecting strips are respectively stitched with the lateralstrengthened strips by stitches and each connecting strip has multiplethrough holes formed through the connecting strip.
 18. The sandbag asclaimed in claim 3, wherein two connecting strips are respectivelystitched with the lateral strengthened strips by stitches and eachconnecting strip has multiple through holes formed through theconnecting strip.
 19. The sandbag as claimed in claim 4, wherein twoconnecting strips are respectively stitched with the lateralstrengthened strips by stitches and each connecting strip has multiplethrough holes formed through the connecting strip.
 20. The sandbag asclaimed in claim 5, wherein two connecting strips are respectivelystitched with the lateral strengthened strips by stitches and eachconnecting strip has multiple through holes formed through theconnecting strip.